The slip-out caused parts of the highway's southbound lane to break off and plunge down a cliff into the sea, The Associated Press reported.
Engineers were working Sunday to assess the damage, and the highway was closed early Monday morning in both directions between Palo Colorado and Limekiln State Park and Lime Creek, about 14 miles south of Monterey. According to To the California Department of Transportation or Caltrans.
Caltrans said crews were working to stabilize the roadway, and it asked people to “avoid all unnecessary travel” in the area.
All Big Sur State Parks within the affected area, including Point Sur, Andrew Molera, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Limekiln, are closed to day visitors and campers “until further notice,” Monterey County said. said.
“We want to emphasize that this is a statewide disaster,” said Nicholas Pasculli, director of communications for Monterey County. said SFGate on Sunday.
Convoys will begin via the Rocky Creek closure #Hwy1 Today at 12 noon. The convoy will drive the vehicles first in the north and then in the south direction and will return at 4 pm today. From tomorrow, convoys will be held at 8 am and 4 pm. Please avoid unnecessary travel in the area. pic.twitter.com/qh5VLcnGY1
— Caltrans District 5 (@CaltransD5) March 31, 2024
About 1,600 people, including tourists and locals visiting Big Sur for the Easter weekend, were initially stranded. Local news reports Some people had that Spend the night Saturday in hotels, temporary shelters or even in their cars.
But on Sunday, emergency vehicles evacuated most people after state engineers determined it was safe to travel on the highway's northbound lanes.
The Monterey-area California Highway Patrol said it is not aware of anyone wanting to leave stranded overnight. More vehicles were tentatively scheduled for Monday at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to allow anyone left behind to evacuate safely, a spokeswoman said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said On social media Sunday, his office said his office was “coordinating closely” with agencies to “address a derailment on Highway 1 near Big Short” and he thanked the “crews working around the clock to fix the road and keep Californians safe.”
Landslides could be problematic on Saturday attempts by state authorities Fully reopen Highway 1 in late spring after the area around Big Sur was closed for repairs Large landslides In the first part of 2023. In December, Caltrans said “months of work” will “still be needed to repair the site.” The company said it was not sure how the winter rains would “impact this timetable”. Since then it has been raining heavily Interrupted repair.
Highway 1, especially along the Big Sur coast Vulnerable to extreme weather events Because of its topography and location. Storms and wildfires – increasingly intensified by climate change – are regular occurrences and lead to erosion, landslides and mudslides that block, damage or destroy parts of the road. Frequent travelers and residents of the area are often aware of the dangers.
As The Washington Post wrote in 2021, “The engineering folly of a road built on sheer rock means that the 'whens', not the 'ifs,' for the people and the economy it supports are annual events.”
